Vehicle-axle.



No. 788,651. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905, G. A. LAMBERT.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19, 1904.

` 2 SHEEfTS-SHBET 1.

iw" HAWAII QW hummm PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

G. A. LAMBERT.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 19, 1901;.

@Wou/Le IFA atnted May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. LAMBERT, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,651, dated May 2,1905.'

Applicatoniiled February 19,1904. Serial No. 194,357. i

, drawings, in whichm Figure l is a side elevation of an axle embodyingmy lnventron; Fig. 2, a transverse section on the line 3 3 on Fig. l;Fig. 3, a

similar view on the lines 3 3 on Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a transverse sectionshowing the channels at each side filled in with half-round bars of woodor other material and the flanges bent over upon the same; Figs. 5 and6, transverse sections showing the manner of constructing the axle oftwo sheets of metal; Fig. 7, a detail horizontal section showing themanner in which a bolt is passed between the thicknesses of the web;Fig. 8, a view of the blank from which the axle is constructed; Figs. 9and 10, respectively, a plan and a side view of another form of axle;and'Fig. l1 a transverse section showing another manner of arrangingwood or other fillings in the channels. Fig. 12 is 4a diagram of one ofthe two blanks employed in constructing an axle like that shown in Figs.5 and 6.

rlhe object of the invention is to produce a light strong axle having asubstantially I formation in cross-section which may be readily taperedat its ends for the reception of the skeins and without sacrificing theI formation, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

As stated, the axle is approximately I shape in cross-section and isconstructed of sheet vmetal, preferably steel, folded on thelongitudinal lines shown in Fig. 8, the flanges belng composed of twothicknesses and the web portion of three. The layers of the anges,

6, the two edge portions of thek sheet terminate and overlap in the web,thereby leaving no rough edges or sharp corners exposed, the edges ofthe flanges being rounded by the act of folding the metal.

The taper at each end of the axle is obtained by tapering the webportion, its width being gradually reduced from thev proper pointstoward the respective ends, as shown in Fig. l, and at these taperedportions the flanges are curled toward each other to make asubstantially cylindrical portion at each end for the reception of theskein or spindle or to serve itself as the spindle, To obtain thedesired taper at the ends of the web, the sheet is tapered at each end,and the lines on which the folds that mark the web are lnadeareconverged toward the ends, as shown at l, 2, and 8 in Fig. 8. Ifdesired, however, the "iianges also may be tapered in width toward theends of the axle in like manner, as shown in Fig. 9.

If desired, the fianges along their entire length may be bent over uponthe rounded surfaces of half-round bars of wood or other material laidin the channels, thereby imparting a nice iinish to the axle, as shownin Figs. i and 1,1, or, as shown in Fig. 5, the flanges may be made wideenough to abut along their outer edges when they are thus bent over. Asalso shown in Figs 5 and 6, the axle may be made of two sheets, each'ofwhich is folded on four lines, as shown in Fig. 12, so that its edgeportions form the web; The edge portions of one sheet interlock witlrandoverlap the similar parts of the other sheet, thereby making a four-plyweb. As shown in Fig. 6, the extreme edge portions of the sheet may becarried out under the top flanges and riveted to give additionalstrength. With this manner of making the axle it can be made very lightin comparison with its strength, and the required taper may be given toit without sacrificing the highly desirable I formation or weakening itby cutting its ends or mutilating it in any other manner. As shown inFigs. 9 and 10, the ianges may be bent over and made to abut theirentire length instead of simply at the tapered spindle portions, asshown in Fig. 1.

It is known that an axle of I shape in crosssection is the ideal shapefor strength and lightness, and the reason why it has not come intoextensive use is that it has been taken for granted that an axle of thattype could not be manufactured in any other manner than by taking anordinary rolled beam and bringing its ends to a taper by objectionablymutilating it or possibly subjecting it to an expensive forgingoperation. It is therefore the object of this invention to obviate thedrawbacks to the adoption of this highly-desirable form of axle, and Iaccomplish this object in the manner set forth herein.

I propose stamping or folding the blank by means of dies whose Walls andworking faces shall be properly tapered to give the desired taper to thefinished axle. In this Way the Web alone or the flanges alone, or both,may be tapered, as the exigencies may require, and as this may beaccomplished with but a few operations of the dies and bending-tools theproduction of the axles will be rendered comparatively inexpensive afterthe die is once made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-d l. An axle constructed of sheet metalfolded longitudinally to form a central web and oppositely-extendinganges at the upper and lower edges thereof, the web and flangesconsisting of two or more plies or thicknesses.

Q. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form acentral web and oppositely-extending anges at the upper and lower edgesthereof, the web and ianges consisting of two or more plies orthicknesses lying closely in contact, and means for fastening the pliesor thicknesses together.

3. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form acentral web and oppositely-extended flanges at the upper and lower edgesthereof, the web and ianges consisting of two or more plies orthicknesses, the parts of the plies constituting the end portions of theweb being tapered, so that the ends of the axle shall taper.

4. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form acentral web and oppositely-extending flanges at the upper and loweredges thereof, the web and lianges consisting of two or more plies orthicknesses, the parts of the plies constituting the end portions of theweb being tapered, so that the ends of the axle shall taper, the iiangesat these tapered portions being curled toward each other to form thetapered spindle portions.

5. A sheet-metal axle consisting of sheet metal folded longitudinally toforrn a central web and oppositely-extending top and bottom flanges, theedge portions of the metal being overlapped in the web portion, andmeans for fastening the plies or thicknesses constituting the webtogether.

6. A sheet-metal axle constructed of two sheets tapered at their endsand fold ed 'on longitudinal lines to form a central web portion 4andoppositely extending top and bottom flanges, the edge portions of thesheets being y overlapped to form the web and being fastened together.

7 An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form acentral web and oppositely-extending top and bottom fianges, the web andflanges being constructed of two or more thicknesses and the flanges atthe ends of the axle being curled toward each other to form spindleportions.

8. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form acentral web and oppositely-extending anges at the upper and lower edgesthereof, the web and flanges consisting of two or more plies orthicknesses, the thicknesses of the web being separated and bentlaterally at intervals to form bolt-passages down through the axle.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 16th day of February, 1904.

GEORGE A. LAMBERT. lVitnesses:

IDA KIRK, CLARICE HETZLER.

